In this free trails class series, learn about trail history, develop trail building skills, and get qualified to do trail work with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks!Â
The Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Trails Steward classes build your knowledge and skill in identifying trail structures and issues that need to be addressed and how to do trail work in Grand Rapids Parks’ trails. You will also grow your technical trails knowledge and understanding of historical and future trail development. Trails classes are always free.
Completing both the Intro to Trails and Trail Eyes classes is required to participate in trail volunteer workdays, based on the technical skills required to safely do trail maintenance.
Ever wonder how the trail at your favorite park got there? Or how we take care of trails to keep them healthy? This class is for you! Our Introduction to Trails class will go over a brief history of trail work and trails used for recreational purposes, basic information about trail building and maintenance, why trails are important, and what we are seeing on trails in Grand Rapids. This class will be held indoors at the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks office.
In this class, we learn how to identify structures that were previously built on trails that you may have never noticed before. Knowing how to identify these structures help trail stewards find issues that need to be addressed. Much like plant identification, trail stewards need to train their eyes to know what to look for! We will also go over basic trail tools, how to use them safely, and what kind of work they are used for. This class will be held outside.
